How a cricket match works

Shown with a T20, the shortest international form and the one to watch first.

1. Two teams of 11. One side bats while the other bowls and fields.
2. The batting side has 20 overs, 120 fair balls, to score as many runs as it can. Its innings ends early if 10 batters are out.
3. The sides swap. The side batting second chases the first side's total.
4. More runs wins. If the scores are level, a super over decides it.

Reading the score

A score such as 186/4 (18.3) means 186 runs scored, 4 batters out, and 18 overs and 3 balls bowled.

How long

A T20 international is scheduled as two sessions of 1 hour 25 minutes, one for each innings, with a break between them.

The longer forms

• ODI: the same shape with 50 overs a side, over one day.
• Test: up to five days. Each side bats twice, and it can end in a draw.